1. Whatsapp Texts as Evidence Against Rakesh Asthana
Whatsapp messages that the two alleged middleman, named accused in the Central Bureau of Investigation’s FIR against Rakesh Asthana, exchanged almost a year back and a flurry of calls after the arrest of one of them on 16 October form the bulk of evidence in the case that has engulfed the country’s federal anti-corruption probe agency, documents reviewed by HT show. These include CBI’s internal documents as well as court filings.
Ajay Bassi, a CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police and former Investigation Officer of the case against Asthana, listed most of the messages before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, 30 October, and sought court’s intervention to get the case investigated by a special investigation team. Bassi was transferred after CBI director Alok Verma was divested of responsibilities. He has sought a quashing of his transfer order. Court is yet to hear his petition.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
2. Delhi’s Air Quality Turns ‘Severe’
Delhi recorded its worst day in terms of air quality this season as the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 401 at 3 pm on Tuesday, 30 October, Central Pollution Control Board officials informed PTI.
Air Quality Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), an agency working under the central government, stated that the deterioration of air quality in Delhi is primarily due to heavy stubble burning in the last 24 hours, accompanied by calm winds that is worsening the situation.
About 28 percent of pollution by PM2.5 (presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) on Tuesday was caused due to regional factors like stubble burning, SAFAR officials were quoted as saying by PTI.
3. If Not Through Consensus, Other Ways to Solve Ram Temple Issue: Yogi
Not ruling out the option of promulgating an ordinance to construct the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, 30 October, said even if the issue could not be resolved by consensus, there were other options to explore.
Adityanath, however, maintained that he respected the judiciary and understood the constitutional constraints, a day after the Supreme Court ignored the UP government’s demand for early hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi title suit.
“The issue should be settled as soon as possible as the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the state is on us. Though consensus remains the best solution, there are many other ways to thrash it out,” the CM said.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. RBI Looked the Other Way When Banks Lent Freely: Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday, 30 October, held the central bank responsible for the mountain of bad loans, saying the Reserve Bank looked the other way when banks lent indiscriminately during 2008-14 to keep the economy humming.
Jaitley's comments reflect a growing tension between the RBI and the government, days after the central bank Deputy Governor Viral Acharya made a bold pitch for autonomy and independence in the banking regulator's functioning.
The Finance Minister said that after the global financial crisis in 2008 and until 2014, banks were told to open their doors and lend indiscriminately to keep the economy going "artificially".
(Source: Mid-Day)
5. BJP Plans 6-Day Rath Yatra to Sabarimala Temple Base Camp
Making Sabarimala a political plank, the BJP plans to conduct a six-day rath yatra culminating at the temple’s base station on 13 November, the day the Supreme Court will consider the review petitions against its verdict lifting restrictions on entry of women.
The yatra will be led by state BJP president P S Sreedharan Pillai and party ally Bharat Dharma Jana Sena president Thushar Vellappally, son of prominent backward Hindu Ezhava community leader Vellppally Natesan. It will be flagged off from Madhur temple in Kasaragod district on November 8 and end in Sabarimala base station Erumeli. National leaders are likely to join the yatra during its various legs.
(Source: The Indian Express)
6. Malegaon Blasts: Lt Col Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Among 7 Charged Under UAPA
A special court on Tuesday, 30 October, framed charges in the 2008 Malegaon blast case against Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and five others under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), setting the ball rolling for the beginning of the trial.
Judge Vinod Padalkar, presiding over the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, framed charges against all seven accused for committing terror acts, conspiring to commit terrorist acts, criminal conspiracy and murder, among others. If convicted, the maximum punishment can be life imprisonment or death.
The court posted the case on 2 November for the trial to commence. Apart from Purohit and Thakur, the other accused are Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
7. JeM Chief’s Nephew Among Two Militants Killed in Tral Encounter
Two militants, including the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, were killed by security forces following a day-long encounter at Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Usman Haidar, the nephew of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was a wanted sniper and is believed to have been behind the spate of attacks on security forces.
An M-4 carbine rifle, which was possibly used for carrying out sniper attacks, was recovered from the encounter spot in Chaanketaar village of Tral, PTI quoted officials as saying.
Another nephew of Azhar, Talha Rashid, was among three militants killed in a security operation in Pulwama in November last year. In April, the ‘operational commander’ of the terror outfit Mufti Yasir was eliminated, becoming the fifth top JeM commander to be killed since June last year.
(Source: The Indian Express)
8. DD Cameraman, 2 Cops Killed in Chhattisgarh Maoist Attack
A Doordarshan cameraperson and two policemen were killed in a Maoist ambush in Dantewada district of poll-bound Chhattistgarh on Tuesday, 30 October, morning.
Two other police personnel were also injured in the ambush that took place near Sumeli camp. The Maoists have been asking people to boycott the polls.
The three-member Doordarshan team was in Bastar for election coverage and heading for reporting on a new polling booth in Nilawaya near Sumeli camp. People in Nilawaya have not exercised their voting rights for the past 20 years.
Two other DD News staffers, including a journalist from Delhi, are said to be safe. Those killed were identified as sub-inspector Rudra Pratap, assistant constable Mangalu and DD News cameraperson Achyutananda Sahu from Delhi.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
9. PM Modi Invites Rome to Invest in ‘Make in India’
India and Italy agreed on Tuesday, 30 October, to broaden their defence ties, which had been under a cloud due to the AugustaWestland affair in recent years, with New Delhi inviting Rome to invest under the “Make in India” initiative.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte “recognised the need to broad base defence ties and make them enduring and mutually beneficial”, said a joint statement issued after talks between the two leaders.
Amid growing uncertainty on global markets, they also agreed on strengthening a “free and rules-based system of international trade” aimed at ensuring a level playing field.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)